Yog is a comprehensive spiritual and philosophical system that deals with the body, mind, and spirit. The Bhagwad Gita describes yog as a transformative path that leads to inner peace , freedom, and spiritual realisation. But the word 'yog' is now mostly associated with Hath Yog .
Hath Yog works directly on the body to increase flexibility, improve cardiovascular health, and boost immunity. It also calms nerves, which helps enhance mental clarity and balance. These benefits are no doubt salutary, but they are not the ultimate goal of yog. It has much more to offer beyond physical fitness, which is why Hath Yog has been described in a classical yog text as 'the stairway to heights of Rajyog '.
'Raja' means king, and Rajyog is often referred to as the royal path of yog because it deals with self-mastery - ruling over one's mind and senses. It is the path that leads to spiritual sovereignty . According to the Gita, the highest yogi is not one who can hold the most difficult posture, but one who has mastered the mind and remains balanced in all conditions. The mind's posture is more important than physical posture, and controlling our thoughts comes before controlling our breath.
The first step of Rajyog is to know our identity - that 'i am an immortal soul, not a perishable body.' The body is the physical medium through which i, the soul, express myself and interact with the world. When i contemplate this truth, i realise that physical attributes i have been identifying with for so long - my gender, nationality, religion, socio-economic status - do not define who i am. Before i was born with this body, i, the eternal soul, lived another life, in a different body, with another name, among other people who were my family. I have thus lived many different lives. The labels by which the world identifies me, only describe my current circumstances - they are different in each of my lives.
The soul is a sentient point of energy residing in the middle of brain, from where it controls the body. When i experience myself as a soul, a deep and stable feeling of peace arises within me, because peace is the soul's natural nature, its innate quality - it's not something to be acquired from outside.
Once i am soul conscious, i have spiritually created a platform to honestly communicate my heart with God, the Supreme Soul. This is Rajyog - it connects us to God through our thoughts and feelings. God, the father of all souls, is also a point of divine energy, but He is an ocean of pure love, peace, and spiritual power. When i immerse myself in God's love, a deep healing begins within me. This process of purification ultimately frees the soul from the influence of innate weaknesses, restoring its self-sovereignty. The soul truly becomes the ruler of the self; i become a source of strength and hope for others. This is how Rajyog transforms us.
Authored by: Rajyogi B K Brijmohan
The author is secretary general, Brahma Kumaris Organization
Hath Yog works directly on the body to increase flexibility, improve cardiovascular health, and boost immunity. It also calms nerves, which helps enhance mental clarity and balance. These benefits are no doubt salutary, but they are not the ultimate goal of yog. It has much more to offer beyond physical fitness, which is why Hath Yog has been described in a classical yog text as 'the stairway to heights of Rajyog '.
'Raja' means king, and Rajyog is often referred to as the royal path of yog because it deals with self-mastery - ruling over one's mind and senses. It is the path that leads to spiritual sovereignty . According to the Gita, the highest yogi is not one who can hold the most difficult posture, but one who has mastered the mind and remains balanced in all conditions. The mind's posture is more important than physical posture, and controlling our thoughts comes before controlling our breath.
The first step of Rajyog is to know our identity - that 'i am an immortal soul, not a perishable body.' The body is the physical medium through which i, the soul, express myself and interact with the world. When i contemplate this truth, i realise that physical attributes i have been identifying with for so long - my gender, nationality, religion, socio-economic status - do not define who i am. Before i was born with this body, i, the eternal soul, lived another life, in a different body, with another name, among other people who were my family. I have thus lived many different lives. The labels by which the world identifies me, only describe my current circumstances - they are different in each of my lives.
The soul is a sentient point of energy residing in the middle of brain, from where it controls the body. When i experience myself as a soul, a deep and stable feeling of peace arises within me, because peace is the soul's natural nature, its innate quality - it's not something to be acquired from outside.
Once i am soul conscious, i have spiritually created a platform to honestly communicate my heart with God, the Supreme Soul. This is Rajyog - it connects us to God through our thoughts and feelings. God, the father of all souls, is also a point of divine energy, but He is an ocean of pure love, peace, and spiritual power. When i immerse myself in God's love, a deep healing begins within me. This process of purification ultimately frees the soul from the influence of innate weaknesses, restoring its self-sovereignty. The soul truly becomes the ruler of the self; i become a source of strength and hope for others. This is how Rajyog transforms us.
Authored by: Rajyogi B K Brijmohan
The author is secretary general, Brahma Kumaris Organization
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